Bogotá Scams to Avoid in 2026 (Colombia)
Bogotá sees scopolamine (burundanga) drugging by strangers, fake taxi kidnappings, and distraction pickpockets in La Candelaria. Walking alone at night in tourist areas is risky.
Street Scams scams are the most documented risk in Bogotá — 4 of 11 reported incidents fall in this category. See all 4 →
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Last updated: April 2, 2026
Candelaria Pickpockets
La Candelaria (the historic colonial centre) is a beautiful area and one of Bogotá's highest pickpocket zones. Tourist cameras and phones are primary targets, especially at viewpoints like Monserrate.
📍La Candelaria historic district in central Bogotá, particularly around Plaza de Bolívar, Calle 10, and the path up to the Monserrate funicular and cable car on Carrera 2; streets around Iglesia de San Francisco
How to avoid: Use a front-facing anti-theft bag. Carry only the cash you need. Visiting La Candelaria with a licensed guide is recommended.
This scam type is also documented in Buenos Aires and Lima.
9
High Risk
2
Medium Risk
0
Low Risk
Bogotá · Colombia · South America
Open map →📍Where These Scams Are Most Active in Bogotá
Specific areas and landmarks with the highest concentration of documented incidents.
Candelaria Pickpockets
La Candelaria historic district in central Bogotá, particularly around Plaza de Bolívar, Calle 10, and the path up to the Monserrate funicular and cable car on Carrera 2; streets around Iglesia de San Francisco
Express Kidnapping in Unofficial Taxi
Throughout Bogotá, especially around El Dorado International Airport arrivals, La Candelaria neighborhood, and the Chapinero bar district; night pickup points on Avenida El Dorado and around TransMilenio stations
Scopolamine (Burundanga) Drugging
Bars and clubs in Chapinero Alto and La Candelaria, Bogotá; around Parque de la 93 and Zona Rosa nightlife strip; also reported in hostel common areas in the historic district
Scopolamine Drugging
Bars and nightclubs in Bogotá's Chapinero and Zona Rosa entertainment districts; La Candelaria historic center; Parque 93 nightlife area
Fake Police Document Check
Around La Candelaria historic center and Plaza de Bolívar in Bogotá; near the Museo del Oro (Gold Museum) on Carrera 6; tourist-heavy streets in Chapinero and the city center
Virtual Kidnapping Phone Scam
Can occur anywhere tourists are reachable by phone in Bogotá, but most commonly targets visitors staying in hotels in La Candelaria, Chapinero, and Zona Rosa districts
These areas are safe to visit — knowing the setups in advance makes them far easier to recognize and avoid.
Street-level scams are most common in Bogotá
4 documented street scams target tourists near major attractions. Unsolicited approaches, "free" gifts, and distraction techniques are the main patterns — confidence and pace help.
How it works
La Candelaria (the historic colonial centre) is a beautiful area and one of Bogotá's highest pickpocket zones. Tourist cameras and phones are primary targets, especially at viewpoints like Monserrate.
How it works
Passengers in unlicensed taxis are driven to multiple ATMs under threat and forced to make withdrawals. This is a serious and documented risk throughout Bogotá, not limited to any one neighbourhood.
How it works
Scopolamine, derived from the borrachero tree, is odorless and can be blown into a victim's face, applied to paper, or slipped into drinks. Victims lose free will, hand over valuables voluntarily, and have no memory of events. Reported near bars and clubs in Chapinero and La Candelaria.
How it works
Bogotá is the city most associated with scopolamine (burundanga) worldwide. The drug is administered in drinks, cigarettes, or occasionally blown in someone's face, causing complete amnesia and compliance. Victims are walked to ATMs.
How it works
Men claiming to be plainclothes police or Interpol agents approach tourists, claiming to check for counterfeit currency or drug trafficking. They ask to examine wallets and passports, then steal cash or use distraction techniques.
How it works
Tourists receive phone calls claiming a family member has been kidnapped, with a person screaming in the background. The caller demands immediate wire transfers. The family member is actually fine and unaware.
How it works
Plain-clothes individuals claiming to be anti-narcotics police demand to inspect tourists' bags and wallets. Real Colombian National Police do not carry out street wallet inspections on tourists.
How it works
Thieves on motorcycles or on foot target pedestrians using smartphones in the Chapinero neighborhood, particularly along Carrera 7 and around the Chapinero Alto and LGBT-friendly bar strip on Calle 62. The snatch typically happens in seconds — a rider pulls alongside the sidewalk, a passenger grabs the phone, and the motorcycle accelerates before the victim can react. The area sees heightened incidents on weekend nights when foot traffic and distraction levels are high.
How it works
Card skimming devices are installed on ATMs in and around Zona Rosa, particularly at standalone machines near nightlife venues on Calle 82 and Carrera 13. Criminals attach thin overlays to card readers and pinhole cameras above keypads to capture card data and PINs. Victims typically do not discover the theft until checking their accounts the following day. Compromised cards are often used for rapid small transactions or cloned for cash withdrawals across the city.
How it works
Bars and clubs in the Zona Rosa entertainment district add unauthorised items to tourist bills or use a different price list from the one shown on entry, sometimes insisting on inflated cash payments.
How it works
Unofficial guides near the Museo del Oro steer tourists toward specific gold and emerald shops after the museum visit, earning large commissions. Prices at these shops are significantly inflated.
Bogotá Safety — Frequently Asked Questions
What scams target tourists in Bogotá?
Are taxis safe in Bogotá?
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Which areas of Bogotá should tourists be most careful in?
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Filter scams in Bogotá by category, or read our worldwide guides for each scam type — taxi scams, street scams, restaurant scams, and more.
If you're visiting more than one destination
Similar scam patterns are active across the South America region. Before visiting Medellín, Cusco, and Montevideo, review each city's guide — tactics vary and local setups differ even for the same scam type.
Editorial note: Scam warnings for Bogotá are compiled from government travel advisories (US State Dept, UK FCDO, Australian DFAT), verified news sources, travel community reports, and traveler-submitted incidents. All entries are reviewed for accuracy and local specificity before publication. Read our full methodology →